“Forced to show their genitals to prove they are women”- Corriere.it

They’re causing a stir the revelations of Nilla Fischera former central defender who in his career wore the shirts of Malmoe, Linkoping and Wolfsburg (with which he won two Swedish championships, two German championships, a Women’s Champions League) and was a pillar of the Swedish national team, Olympic silver medalist in Rio 2016. Revelations featured in his book «I Didn’t Even Say Half Of It».

The former footballer tells a story that dates back to 2011, when the Women’s World Cup was taking place in Germany. In those days Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana had complained to Fifa over the presence of men in the Equatorial Guinea team. And this is where Nilla’s shocking revelations begin: “We had to show our genitals to the doctor. We were told we shouldn’t have to shave to show our gender.” And again: «None of us understands the question of hair removal, but we do what we are told. Nobody wants to jeopardize the opportunity to play in a World Cup. So no matter how bad it feels.”

All finished? Not at all. In an interview given to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladetadds: “I figure out what I have to do and quickly pull down my training pants and underpants at the same time. The physio nods, then looks at the doctor who has his back to my door. He takes note and moves down the hall to knock on the next door. When all the players on the team were checked, the doctor was then able to sign a document. He attested that the Swedish women’s national football team was made up only of women ».

FIFA had enacted its current gender recognition policies, which require teams to sign a declaration guaranteeing that the players chosen for the World Cup are “of appropriate gender”. It is unclear, however, why the Swedish players in 2011 were not subjected to a buccal swab test. Among other things, a cheap and non-intrusive way to collect DNA from cells inside the cheek and determine a person’s sex. No comment at the moment from Fifa on Fischer’s revelations.